How to open Office Word in Safe Mode

1. Introduction
2. Steps to follow
3. Read also

Introduction

If your Microsoft Office crashes every time you open it, it is probably due to an add-on that is malfunctioning. So, it could also be caused by some issues with the customizations.

Microsoft Office applications have a built-in safe mode feature. This helps when you cannot use Office normally.

If you are currently experiencing this problem, you can try opening your Microsoft Office applications in safe mode. With the help of Safe Mode, it loads all these Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook and others) without the features that are causing the problem. This helps users when they are not able to use Office normally. Word or Excel may crash each time you open it. You can start all these Office applications in safe mode. There are high chances that it will work as before.

What is Office Safe Mode?

When you start an Office application in safe mode, it loads without adding add-ins or extensions and without customizing the toolbar or command bar. Any retrieved document that would normally open automatically will not open. Auto-correction and other features will not work, so preferences cannot be saved.
If Office crashes every time you open it, it's probably the result of a buggy add-on, but it can also be the result of a problem with your customizations. Safe mode loads without all these features that can cause you problems.
This feature is different from the safe mode of Windows. In Windows Safe Mode, your entire Windows operating system restarts without third-party drivers and other start-up software that may cause problems. It is a similar idea, but for Office applications like Word, Excel and PowerPoint only.
We will show you how to start Office in a safe mode

Steps to follow

Method 1: Start safe mode with a keyboard shortcut

1. To open an Office application in safe mode, press and hold the Ctrl key while you launch the program shortcut by clicking it.

2. You will see a message saying "You’re holding down the CTRL key. Do you want to start [Application] in Safe Mode? ".

3. You can release the Ctrl key when this message box appears. Click "Yes" to launch the application in safe mode.

Method 2: Start safe mode with a command prompt

You can also launch Office applications in safe mode by opening them with the / safeoption.
For example, you can do this from the Run dialog box.

1. Press Windows + R to open it,
2. Then, type one of the following commands:
• Word: winword / safe
• Excel: excel / safe
• PowerPoint: powerpnt / safe
• Outlook: outlook / safe
• Publisher: mspub / safe
• Visio: visio / safe

3. Press Enter or click "OK" and the application will launch in safe mode.

4. If you need to periodically open an Office application in safe mode, you can create a new desktop shortcut to the Office application and add / safe to the end of the Target box in its shortcut pane. This shortcut would always launch the application in safe mode.

How to leave safe mode

To exit safe mode, you must close the Office application and launch it normally.
If Office loads correctly in safe mode but hangs in normal mode, the problem is probably a buggy add-in.
1. You can view these items by selecting File> Options> Add-ins in Office 2016.
2. You may have to uninstall, reinstall, or update one or more Office add-ins that are crashing.
If Office still hangs in safe mode, its files may be corrupted. In this case, it is recommended that you uninstall and reinstall Office on your computer.

Read also

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